Public forum: Melbourne 's Urban Growth... Boundary? Thursday 9 September 2010

Panel Discussion

At RMIT bldg 50, Orr St (off Victoria St), Carlton

Thursday 9 September 2010, 7 PM

Entry by gold coin donation

Refreshments provided

The Victorian State government recently announced that Melbourne's urban growth boundary will be expanded, an increase roughly equivalent to four times the size of Philip Island, that is expected to accommodate 134,000 new houses (that's about 3.1 dwellings per hectare, pretty low density considering 10 dwellings per hectare is about the average for the equivalent land area South-East of the CBD).

The decision has been supported by the Coalition and applauded by housing and property Industry groups, with the claim being that expansion of the UGB will make housing more affordable. But it has sparked dismay and disbelief elsewhere in the built environment profession, among planning groups and the community at large. It looks like Melbourne's steady outward sprawl, long criticised for pushing people further and further from jobs and services, forcing car dependence and taking over much-needed agricultural land, is here to stay.

Is this really the answer to housing affordability?

How does this measure impact on social and ecological sustainability?

What does this mean for Melbourne?

Join us as we explore this topic with a number of leading experts:

- Paul Mees, lecturer at RMIT Global Studies, Science & Social Planning focusing on transportation.

- Stuart Worn, executive officer of Planning Institute of Australia

- Ian Woods, president of Save our Suburbs

- Tony De Domenico, executive director of Urban Development Institute of Australia

- Carolyn Whitzman, associate professor in Urban Planning, University of Melbourne

- Kate Shaw, ARC research fellow, University of Melbourne

- Maree McPherson, CEO of Victorian Local Governance Association

- Dianne Moy, Project Coordinator, VEIL (Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab)

The discussion will be chaired by Ian Woodcock, research fellow-Urban Design, University of Melbourne.

image by theage.com.au